Drug bust uncovers $18m worth

THE covert police operation that uncovered one of the largest cannabis hauls ever seized on the Mid North Coast last week at Dorrigo, has earned the praise of the State Government.

The staggering $18-million bust, which saw 9000 mature cannabis plants pulled from the ground on two leased properties in the Chaelundi National Park, west of Dorrigo, also led to the arrest of two Coffs Harbour men.

Speaking on behalf of the government, Acting Police Minister David Campbell said it was the single largest seizure found in the one area of NSW over the past three years.

“A haul of this size will have a significant impact on the availability of drugs on the streets, not only locally on the Coffs Coast but throughout the State,” Mr Campbell said.

“I’d like to commend the officers from Strike Force Morison involved in the success of this operation and the strong inroads they’re making into pulling apart illegal cannabis crops,” he said.

Highlighting the size of the local crop, the NSW Government last April commended the State Crime Command for netting $18 million in cannabis in five separate raids throughout the State.

A month ago, the police drug squad began investigations in Dorrigo with the assistance of officers from the Coffs Clarence and New England area commands.

Police say the plantation unit of the drug squad, utilises a range of police technology working in with Police Airwing, drug dog squads and gathered intelligence of local detectives to locate and shut down drug operations.